Who’s in town
Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairman of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, speaks. [7 p.m., World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St., S.F.]
Lectures
Politics and media: Diane Dwyer, NBC Bay Area news anchor, and Randy Shandobil, of Shandobil Communications, discuss the media’s role in shaping presidential politics. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
Adam Gazzaley: The founding director of UCSF’s Neuroscience Imaging Center gives a talk titled “Video Games as Cognitive Enhancers.” [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.; sold out; visit www.commonwealthclub.org to get on waitlist]
Literary events
Seth Rosenfeld: The journalist talks about “Subversives: The FBI’s War on Student Radicals and Reagan’s Rise to Power.” [7:30 p.m., Booksmith, 1644 Haight St., S.F.]
Judith Horstman: The journalist, editor and professor talks about “The Scientific American Healthy Aging Brain.” [6 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, S.F.]
Graphic-novel authors: Raina Telgemeier (“Drama”), Doug Tennapel (“Cardboard”) and James Burks (“Bird and Squirrel on the Run”) discuss storytelling in graphic novels. [6:30 p.m., Books Inc., 3515 California St., S.F.]
Open Heart Poetry: Paul Corman-Roberts is the featured poet. The evening also includes tea and open-mic presentations. [7 to 10 p.m., Om Shan Tea, 233 14th St., S.F.]
At the colleges
Pixar films: The program features excerpts from animated films from Pixar studios, with commentary by art director Tia Kratter. [5:30 p.m., Xavier Auditorium, Fromm Hall, USF, 2130 Fulton St., S.F.; RSVP: (415) 422-6828]
Architecture talk: Minimaforms co-director Theodore Spyropoulos, also director of the Architectural Association’s Design Research Lab, speaks. [7 p.m., California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth St., S.F.]
At the public library
First Monday Movies: “Suspicion” (1941), directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, is September’s featured film. [6:30 p.m., Excelsior Branch, 4400 Mission St., S.F.]
Clown act: Boswick, a former Ringling circus clown, performs a show of magic, juggling and comedy for all ages. [4 p.m., Merced Branch, 155 Winston Drive, S.F.]
Local activities
Whipping it: Rock and new-wave bands Blondie and Devo bring their “Whip It to Shreds” tour, featuring songs old and new, to San Francisco. [8 p.m., Warfield, 982 Market St., S.F.]
Lindy-hop classes: Swing or Nothing launches a four-week session of lindy-hop dance classes. No partner or dance experience is needed. [6:45 to 9:45 p.m., Women’s Building, 3543 18th St., S.F.; register: www.swingornothing.com/mondays]
Opera workshops: San Francisco Opera launches a four-week workshop session for adults. Participants can experience the creation of an opera. [7 p.m., War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.; (415) 864-3330 or education@sfopera.com]
Comedy show: Kung Pao Kosher Comedy presents “Comedy Returns to El Rio.” Diane Amos, Malcolm Grissom, Jill Bourque, Bob McIntyre and Lisa Geduldig supply the humor this month. [8 p.m., El Rio, 3158 Mission St., S.F.]
Dining out
Georges: The octopus Bolognese with house-made saffron reginette and aglio olio is described as particularly special. The heirloom-tomato and burrata salad, too, is recommended. [415 Sansome St., S.F.; (415) 956-6900]
